h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You know that 'add your user number up to 42' thing that was going on during the downtime? Please help - I'm admitting defeat. I've tried so hard, but I'm a medieval historian, dammit, not a mathematician, and I can't get it to work.

146988

AKA Cloviscat

(1*4) + (6*9) - 8 - 8 = 42

Mine being

97296

which is

(9-7)*2*9+6=42

Thank you

I don't know how you do it!

If ever you want to know about 12th century Papacy, 80's pop music or the Scottish Parliament, I'll be happy to oblige!

bet you cannot do it with mine though!

Hey I only just realised. I'm 42.

Mine's impossible too (161008)

There's something deeply suspcious about researchers who can't

Not sure if this is allowed for Mr Cogito but hows about

161008

(1*6)*(-1+0+0+8) = 42

It's allowed if the numbers are in the correct order!
Acheron!
{My number U128652: 1+28+6+5+2=42!}

There's a special for those who just use straight additon - a particularly pure form!
AGB!

Well...I'm not sure if this is strictly legal, but
161267
1-6+1+(2 squared)+(6*7)=42!

161267
1-6+1+(2 squared)+(6*7)=42!

Not really as 2 squared is 2^2 used two nos.

SO
1+6 * (-1+2+6) - 7 =42

Goto A530560 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A530560) for more!

Abi - you ARE an Italic - you get let off - but what is your No.? I'm sure I can find a Cheat to do it!

Abi's number is 281

Closest I've got is 41 by using InverseTan on the 1 to get to 45

Dear Cloviscat
I knew someone would get back to you while I was having a day off (it was grave sweeping festival) So I amused nyself with your number.
I assumed it was in base 12( so you had 8 units, 8 x 12, 9 x 144 etc)
Transformed to base 10 gives 343544
3x4x3= 36 + 5 = 41 + 4/4 =42 ()

Now - can you solve Abi's 281 dilemma ?

OK add the leading zeros.....
So Abi's User number becomes U000281

(0^0+0+2)! * (8-1) = (1+0+2)! * 7 = 3! *7 = 42

OR
as
8!=40320

2 (40320) 1 = 2+40*(3-2) + (0*1) =42

D'oh! So *that's* why people have been putting strange sums on the end of their names.....!!!!

Hmm, do I get a special prize for having my user number (U40382) start with a 4 and end with a 2?
I can't find a way to turn it into 42 yet but I'm trying I think the main problem is that I have a single odd number in it.

(4+0)*(3+8)-2=42???!!!!